Bipartisan group marks 4th anniversary of NH gay marriage law

A bipartisan group of New Hampshire political leaders marked the four-year anniversary of the state's same sex marriage bill being signed into law on a conference call with reporters on Monday.

The state's same sex marriage law was signed by then Gov. John Lynch on June 3, 2009. New Hampshire was just beat out by Maine in having the first same-sex marriage law passed by a legislature and not ordered by a court. However, Maine voters then repealed their law before passing it again.

Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, R-Peterborough, was joined on the call by Democrats U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Executive Councilor Chris Pappas, as well as small businessman Craig Stowall, a Claremont Republican.

Bass came out for same-sex marriage after losing re-election in November. He said the fact that New Hampshire led the way on the issue was not because it is a "liberal state" but because it is conservative. He believes the values of states' rights and of family are reinforced by the state law. New Hampshire's law was passed by Democrats in the House and Senate and signed into law by a Democratic governor.

"New Hampshire has been a leader on this issue and has served as a model," Shaheen said. "Now is the time for the rest of the country to catch up and make sure that everyone is treated fairly and equitably under the law."

In polling, the issue hasn't been that controversial in recent years. A majority support the law and there hasn't been a serious movement to repeal it in two years.

When repeal came up for a vote in the House, Republicans actually defeated the measure. During last year's governor's race, neither Republican candidate for governor ran on a platform of repealing the law, but each said he would sign a repeal if it landed on his desk.